Hobbies And Interests
Sell the Car
For those that work and commute locally, selling your vehicle is proof that you are serious about making a difference on your global impact. With all of the carbon emissions from vehicles, there is a trend towards the cleaner-burning hybrid cars. However, this still leaves you dependent on fossil fuels, and as a result you are still causing that extra pollution. Instead, take advantage of the area's public transit, or dust off your bicycle and start pedaling to work or school. When you sell the car, not only do you give the atmosphere a breather of one less person's pollution, but you can get into shape by walking and biking more, and you also get the opportunity to connect with your fellow man, in daily interactions that being isolated in a vehicle seems to cut out of everyday life.
Shop at Farmer's Markets
Buying locally grown, non-processed foods is a great way to cut back on carbon output. When you buy fruits and vegetables that are out of season or from across the globe, the methods used to transport those foods to you are extremely harmful to the atmosphere. The same goes for the plants that manufacture much of the processed food that you see on the shelves at the supermarket.
Home Green Home
There are many steps that can make your home more green. If you have the luxury of building your home, use sustainable materials in its construction, and avoid concrete as much as possible, which has a highly polluting production process. Give your house a "passive solar design," which refers to utilizing design elements that makes use of the sun's energy to aid with efficiency in heating and cooling of your home. This design will make your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Install solar panels to cut back or possibly cancel out the need for electricity from a power plant.
Summary
These methods to cut back your contribution to global warming, as well as many others, involve reducing your "carbon footprint," or the impact your lifestyle has on the environment. Having as little a carbon footprint as possible involves utilizing renewable resources, buying locally and recycling/re-purposing items. Cutting back on your consumerism is a good way to take a stance on the large amounts of pollution that are produced from the manufacturing of the products that you consume. You can also volunteer in local efforts to clean up the environment, and avoid using items that are known as toxic to the environment. Also, the old standby of replacing your incandescent light bulbs at home with compact florescent bulbs remains a good way to reduce your energy consumption.